Strawberry plant named ‘Driscoll El Capitan’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Driscoll El Capitan’. The variety is similar to the varieties Coronado and San Miguel. The variety is distinguished from ‘Coronado’ and ‘San Miguel’, in that ‘Driscoll El Capitan’ has an obtuse terminal leaflet teeth shape, medium to dense petiole pubescence, medium to strong anthocyanin coloration, cordate fruit shape, marked difference in shape between primary and secondary fruits, large hollow center size, and time of flowering is mid-December.

1. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety originated as a result of a controlled cross between thestrawberry plants ‘San Miguel’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,642) and ‘12A71’(unpatented variety) in an ongoing breeding program, and was discoveredas a seedling in Ventura County, Calif. in February, 1996. The originalseedling of the new cultivar was asexually propagated by stolons in anursery in Shasta County, Calif. Propagules were transplanted to acontrolled breeding plot in Ventura County, Calif., where the varietywas identified and selected for further evaluation. ‘Driscoll ElCapitan’ was subsequently asexually propagated and underwent furthertesting at in Ventura County, Calif. for six years. This propagation andtesting has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed hereinwhich characterize the new variety are fixed and retained true to typethrough successive generations of asexual reproduction.

1.1 LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

The variety is botanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa.

2. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety ofstrawberry named ‘Driscoll El Capitan’. The variety is botanicallyidentified as Fragaria×ananassa. The new variety is distinguished fromother varieties by a number of characteristics as set forth in Tables1-4.

3. COMPARISON TO SIMILAR VARIETIES

The varieties which we believe to be similar to ‘Driscoll El Capitan’from those known to us are ‘Coronado’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,221) and‘San Miguel’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,642). There are severalcharacteristics of the new variety that are different from, or notpossessed by ‘Coronado’ and ‘San Miguel’. The new variety has an obtuseterminal leaflet teeth shape, medium to dense petiole pubescence, mediumto strong anthocyanin coloration, cordate fruit shape, marked differencein shape between primary and secondary fruits, large hollow center size,and time of flowering is mid-December.

4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety,including fruit, foliage and flowers, in color as nearly true as it isreasonably possible to make in color illustrations of thesecharacteristics.

FIG. 1 shows the leaves of the plant.

FIG. 2 shows the upper side and the under side of the flowers.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the fruit.

FIG. 4 shows the fruit in longitudinal cross-section.

5. DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description of the new variety is based uponobservations taken of plants and fruit grown in Monterey County, Calif.,U.S.A. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology.Observations of ‘Driscoll El Capitan’, ‘Coronado’ and ‘San Miguel’ weretaken in side by side comparison in the year 2001. Color designations,color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate fromthe stated values and descriptions depending upon variation inenvironmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. Colors aredescribed and the most similar color designations are provided from TheRoyal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

5.1 PROPAGATION

The new variety is principally propagated by way of stolons. Althoughpropagation by stolons is presently preferred, other known methods ofpropagating strawberry plants may be employed.

5.2 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW VARIETY

Information on the new variety is presented in Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4. Inthe tables, the flowers described are secondary flowers except whereindicated. The petal color of ‘Driscoll El Capitan’ is white (155C inThe R.H.S. Colour Chart). The fruit described is the secondary fruit onone-year-old plants. Fruit and flower measurements are an average ofboth primary and secondary fruit and flowers. The average stolondiameter at bract subtending the daughter plant is 2.40 mm. The numberof propagules/nursery plant in 2002 was 61.8. The anthocyanin colorationof the stipules in the Fall of the year in nursery is light green with afaint blush of pink anthocyanin (149D in The R.H.S. Colour Chart). Thepetiolule length is 9.47 mm and the petiolule color is 149A. The leaftexture is blistered, the leaf margin is crenate, the leaf vein color is149A (in The R.H.S. Colour Chart), and the leaf venation is pinnate. Thepetal shape is ovate to rounded, the petal margin is entire, the petalnumber is 6, and the petal color of upper and lower surface is 155C (inThe R.H.S. Colour Chart). The sepal color is 137B (in The R.H.S. ColourChart) on the upper surface and 137D (in The R.H.S. Colour Chart) on thelower surface, the average sepal number is 11.7, average sepal length is13.98 mm, and average sepal width as 6.90 mm. The color of fruitvascular tissue is 155C (in The R.H.S. Colour Chart). The average weightof achenes is 0.00064 g and the average number of achenes/berry is252.5. The anthocyanin color of stolon is purple red 58A (in The R.H.S.Colour Chart). The color of anthers is yellow 13A (in the R.H.S. ColourChart) and the color of pistils and receptical is yellow 7A (in TheR.H.S. Colour Chart).

Table 1 provides information on the plant and fruit characteristics ofthe new variety ‘Driscoll El Capitan’ compared with characteristics of‘Coronado’ and ‘San Miguel’. Table 2 provides additional information ofthe plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll ElCapitan’ compared with characteristics of the varieties ‘Coronado’ and‘San Miguel’. Table 3 provides reactions of the new variety to stresses,pests and diseases compared with reactions of the varieties ‘Coronado’and ‘San Miguel’. Table 4 provides isozyme characteristics of the newvariety as compared to that of the varieties ‘Coronado’ and ‘SanMiguel’.

TABLE 1 DETAILED COMPARISON OF ‘DRISCOLL EL CAPITAN’, ‘CORONADO’ AND‘SAN MIGUEL’ ‘Drsicoll El Capitan’ ‘Coronado’ ‘San Miguel’ PlantCharacteristics Height of Plant (cm) 24.0 20.7 22.8 Spread of Plant (cm)32.6 28.7 29.4 Number of Crowns 6.0 4.6 4.4 Leaf CharacteristicsTerminal Leaflet 6.0 6.1 6.2 Length (cm) Terminal Leaflet 6.0 6.3 5.8Width (cm) Terminal Leaflet 1.00 0.97 1.07 Length/Width # Teeth/Terminal16.3 21.6 20.7 Leaflet Color of upper side dark green light to medium to147A medium green dark green 137A 147A Color of under side light tolight to light to medium green medium green medium green 147C 137B 138BPetiole Length (cm) 18.2 16.3 16.0 Petiole Color 149A 149A 149A BractFrequency 8% 0% 30% typically typically single paired Stipule Length(cm) 3.4 3.4 2.9 Stipule Width (cm) 1.1 1.2 1.1 Flower CharacteristicsPetal Length (cm) 1.5 1.6 1.4 Petal Width (cm) 1.7 1.7 1.5 PetalLength/Width 0.91 0.93 0.98 Ratio Flower Diameter (cm) 3.2 3.4 2.7 CalyxDiameter (cm) 4.4 4.4 4.1 Fruiting Truss Length (cm) 22.9 22.1 25.7Fruit Characteristics Fruit Length (cm) 5.0 4.3 4.3 Fruit Width (cm) 3.93.9 4.1 Fruit Length/Width 1.28 1.11 1.07 Ratio Average Berry Weight23.3 23.6 23.2 (g) External Color dark red red dark red 53A 46A 53AInternal Color red red dark red 43A 41A 45A Average % brix 7.9 7.1 7.1Brix/Acid Ratio 9.71 9.11 9.33 Achene Coloration dark red to dark red todark red to yellow green yellow yellow green 60A to 151A 53A to 141B 53Ato 151B Yield (g/plant) 695 598 557

TABLE 2 CHARACTERISTICS OF ‘DRISCOLL EL CAPITAN’, ‘CORONADO’ AND ‘SANMIGUEL’ ‘Driscoll El Capitan’ ‘Coronado’ ‘San Miguel’ Plant Habitglobase globase flat globase Density open open open Vigor strong mediummedium Leaf Shape in cross section concave slightly concave concaveInterveinal blistering medium strong strong Glossiness medium strongstrong strong Number of leaflets three only more than three three onlyon up to 5 out of 10 leaves Terminal leaflet flat flat to cupped flat torevolute margin profile Terminal leaflet shape obtuse obtuse rounded ofbase Terminal leaflet shape obtuse rounded rounded of teeth Stipulepubescence sparse sparse sparse Petiole pubescence medium to mediumsparse to dense medium Petiole pose of hairs outward outward outwardStolon Amount many medium to many many Anthocyanin medium to weak toweak to coloration strong medium medium Thickness thin medium thin tomedium Pubescence sparse to sparse to sparse to medium medium mediumInflorescence Position relative to above level to above foilage aboveDiameter of calyx larger larger larger relative to corolla on secondaryflowers Diameter of inner smaller to same size same size calyx relativeto same size to larger outer secondary flowers Spacing of petalsoverlapping touching to overlapping overlapping Fruiting Truss Attitudeat first prostrate semi-erect to prostrate picking prostrate FruitPredominant shape cordate conical to conical to wedged cylindricalDifference in shapes marked moderate moderate between primary andsecondary fruits Band without achenes very narrow narrow very narrowUnevenness of surface weak to weak to weak to medium medium mediumEvenness of color slightly uneven even even to even Glossiness strongmedium to medium strong Insertion of achenes below to below below levelwith surface surface the surface Insertion of calyx in a basin level toset above to level set above Pose of the calyx reflexed spreadingspreading to segments reflexed Size of calyx in larger larger same sizerelation to fruit on secondary fruit Adherence of calyx strong mediumstrong Firmness of flesh firm firm firm Evenness of flesh even slightlyeven even color Distribution of flesh marginal and marginal and marginaland color central central central Hollow center size large medium mediumSweetness strong weak strong Texture when tested fine fine fine Aciditymedium strong medium Time of Flowering mid-December early-Januaryearly-January Harvest Interval in late-January early-Februaryearly-February 2001 to mid-June to mid-June to mid-June Type of Bearingpartially partially partially everbearing everbearing everbearing

5.3 REACTION TO STRESS, PESTS AND DISEASE

TABLE 3 ‘Driscoll El Capitan’ ‘Coronado’ ‘San Miguel’ Reaction to Stresshigh pH moderately moderately moderately resistant resistant resistanthigh soil salt levels moderately moderately moderately resistantresistant resistant Reaction to Pests Tetranychus urticae moderatelymoderately moderately resistant resistant resistant Lygus hesperussusceptible susceptible susceptible Reaction To Diseases Botrytis fruitrot moderately moderately moderately susceptible susceptible susceptiblePowdery mildew moderately moderately moderately resistant resistantresistant Verticillium wilt susceptible susceptible susceptibleStrawberry Mottle Virus moderately moderately moderately resistantresistant resistant Xanthomonas fragariae moderately moderatelymoderately susceptible susceptible susceptible

5.4 ISOZYME ANALYSIS

In addition to the morphological description above, the new cultivar‘Driscoll El Capitan’ has been analyzed to obtain an indication of itsgenetic makeup to provide further means for identifying the new varietyand distinguishing it from other somewhat similar and/or relatedstrawberry varieties. Specifically, leaf samples of ‘Driscoll ElCapitan’, ‘Coronado’ and ‘San Miguel’ were analyzed by electrophoresisfor isozyme patterns of the enzymes phosphoglucoisomerase (“PGI”),leucine aminopeptidase (“LAP”) and phosphoglucomutase (“PGM”). See J.Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106:684-687. Isozyme characterization of the threevarieties is presented in Table 4, with the letters representing thebanding patterns for each enzyme as designated in the above-identifiedarticle.

TABLE 4 ISOZYME ANALYSIS FOR ‘DRISCOLL EL CAPITAN’, ‘CORONADO’ AND ‘SANMIGUEL’ ‘Driscoll El Locus Capitan’ ‘Coronado’ ‘San Miguel’ PGI A2 A2 A4LAP B3 B3 B3 PGM C4 C4 C2

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant,substantially as shown and described.